title: Delayed maturation of the interstitial cells of Cajal: a new diagnosis for transient neonatal pseudoobstruction. Report of two cases.
abstract: The case histories of two neonates presenting with intestinal pseudoobstruction are presented. One boy infant was premature and the girl infant was full term. Both patients needed a defunctioning ileostomy, and biopsy findings of the intestine in both patients showed a lack of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). At the time of closure of the ileostomies to restore intestinal continuity, repeat biopsy results showed a normal pattern of distribution of ICC. Delay in the development of ICC in the gastrointestinal tract may be a cause of intestinal pseudoobstruction in the newborn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vanderwinden
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rintala
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vanderhaegen
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: De Laet
mesh_terms: D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology*; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit